Sharron Ferguson would love to see more Dunedin employers supporting the release-to-work prisoner rehabilitation scheme.
In the past year, 47 minimum-security prisoners from the Otago Corrections Facility have been in paid employment outside prison through the release-to-work scheme, Mrs Ferguson, a Corrections inmate employment case manager, says.
Most of those prisoners had been employed in and around Milton where the 335-bed prison was opened in May last year.
While it was great to have 12 prisoners learning skills and saving money through the scheme, she had another 76 on her books who could qualify for release to work, Mrs Ferguson said.
Dunedin had ‘‘untapped potential'' and she hoped to expand her list beyond the two city businesses involved at present.
‘‘Hopefully people will get behind this and help these boys turn their lives around,'' she said.
Only a small percentage of prisoners are eligible for release to work and a lot of attention is given to ensuring the public feels safe and comfortable with the scheme.
‘‘They have to have had no incidents and be in the last 12 months of their sentence or have served two-thirds of it.''
Prisoners also have to complete any required drug, alcohol or anger management courses and to prove they are motivated to work.
‘‘I vet all the candidates very carefully and aim to match them to suitable employment.''
When placed with an employer, the prisoners agree to 20 ‘‘stringent conditions'' such as drug testing and not leaving the work premises.
Employers have included engineering firms, farms, forestry, timber mills, quarries, freezing works and tanneries. The scheme was ‘‘to supplement seasonal employment, not to replace employees''.
Of the 47 Otago prisoners on release to work, 21 had gone on to work for the employer after their release.
‘‘Of the others, most have shifted out of the area to be closer to family. We've had seven that haven't worked out.''
Release to work was about prisoners paying their debt to society and preparing to positively re-enter society, Mrs Ferguson said.
Instead of the old ‘‘lock 'em up and throw away the key'' approach, release to work focused on ‘‘rehabilitation and reintegration''.
‘‘Because, eventually, they will get out.''
Out of their pay packets, release-to-work prisoners pay any outstanding court costs and reparation as well as prison board and travel expenses. Fourteen per cent can be spent at the prison shop. The rest is banked until they are released.
Release to work had resulted in significant change for many of the prisoners, she said.
‘‘I've seen people with hunched-over shoulders turned into confident and competent people ready to take on any task - it's a complete and utter turnaround.''
